Oakes is named as Cheney Police Department's 2014 Officer of the Year

Cheney Police Officer Chris Oakes has been named the department's 2014 Officer of the Year. Oakes was one of five Police Department officers nominated, and selected by a committee based upon a criteria of taking care of the community, serving the public first, productivity and how well nominees do their job.

"I feel honored," Oakes said. "It's an award from my peers. I never expected that."

A native of the Tacoma area, Oakes joined the Army after graduating from Gig Harbor High School in 2002. He served one-year tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan as a member of the 173rd Airborne, seeing combat during both tours. Oakes credits this experience in pointing him in the direction of a career of public service.

"I turned 19 in Iraq," he said. "It just kind of matured me a bit. The military was the best thing I ever did."

After leaving the Army in 2006, Oakes found his way to Cheney in 2009 after a friend of his convinced him to move. He attended Spokane Falls Community College and became a member of the Cheney Police Department reserves in 2011.

Oakes became a full time officer in August 2012, completing his academy training in Burien, Wash. In an Aug. 9, 2012, Cheney Free Press article it was noted that he received a Lifesaving Award from the International Association of Chiefs of Police for an April incident he was involved in, and was given the West Plains Chamber of Commerce's 2012 "Best of the West" award for Cheney Police.

Oakes recently married in November, and moved to the day shift this year, something he enjoys because it provides the opportunity to do a little more investigative work.

"It gives you an opportunity to see a broader spectrum of incidents," he said.

Cheney Police Chief John Hensley said Oakes is thought of very highly by his fellow officers. He has a strong work ethic, having developed a firearms training course for the department, and interacts well with everyone, particularly with college students.

"One of the comments you hear is 'if you get involved in a problem on the streets, the first person you want by your side is Chris Oakes," Hensley said. "He's an all-around top officer."

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].